Virginia Library Association Blog » Technical Services and Technology

LITA pre-conference events @ALA in DC

cyndera — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 20:52:10 +0000

Already registered for Annual Conference? It’s not too late to add a preconference to your existing registration. Consider one of LITA’s three preconference offerings, including one half-day workshop on Friday afternoon:

1) Migrating to open source library systems

2) Open Source CMS Playroom

3) LibGuides Interface Customization

Go to http://www.lita.org/ala/mgrps/divs/lita/litahome.cfm [...]

New VLA Logo Adopted

shelm — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 17:17:17 +0000

The new VLA logo was unveiled and adopted at the April 9th Council Meeting.

The new logo is available for download and use on all VLA publications, signage, web sites, etc. in various sizes, formats and color variations.

Special thanks go to Visa Varga and the Central Rappahannock Regional Library graphics staff for the beautiful work.

Library Computers Used By A Third Of Americans (Univ. WA CIS Survey)

shelm — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 12:23:13 +0000

SEATTLE — A third of Americans – about 77 million people – use public library computers to look for jobs, connect with friends, do their homework and improve their lives, according to a new study released Thursday.

It confirms what public libraries have been saying as they compete for public dollars to expand their services and high-speed Internet access: library use by the general public is widespread and not just among poor people.

But researchers found that those living below the federal poverty line – families of four with a household income of $22,000 or less – had the highest use of library computers. Among those households, 44 percent reported using public library computers and Internet access during the past year.

Among those aged 14 to 24 in poor households, 61 percent used public library computers and Internet for education purposes, though young people were the biggest library computers among all demographic groups.

Nearly half of the nation’s 14- to 18-year-olds – about 11.8 million people – reported using a library last year and a quarter of teens used the library at least once a week.

The study was paid for by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and conducted by the University of Washington Information School, which gathered information in three ways:

_ A random national telephone survey of 3,176 people from April to August.

_ In-person interviews with library patrons in Baltimore, Fayetteville, Ark., Marshalltown, Iowa, and Oakland, Calif.

_ An online survey that was answered by 45,000 people after they logged on to use a public library computer.

The most common uses for library computers included gaining access to government agencies, searching for jobs and filling out applications, doing homework, communicating with friends and family, banking, seeking health advice, running a business, completing online courses and seeking financial aid for college.

The researchers were intrigued to find that people across all age and ethnic groups used library computers, said Michael Crandall, one of the principal authors of the study and chairman of the Master of Science in Information Management at the University of Washington Information School.

Some of the findings were surprising, he said.

“In the health area, over 80 percent of the users said they made a change in their diet after using library computers,” Crandall said, adding that he did not know if the change was permanent.

The most unexpected finding, according to Crandall, is that two out of three of the people who use library computers said they are using the computers to help friends or family, such as scanning job databases or looking up information for others.

“In terms of library services, we’re deeply undercounting,” he said, referring to the others benefiting from library computer searches conducted on their behalf.

Crandall said he was also interested to learn that one in four Americans use public library computers while traveling.

DONNA GORDON BLANKINSHIP
reposted from the Huffington Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/25/library-computers-used-by_n_512681.html#

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On the Net:

Survey: http://cis.washington.edu/usimpact/projects/us-public-library-study/

Program: Managing and Preserving Archival Collections

shelm — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 17:51:06 +0000

MANAGING AND PRESERVING ARCHIVAL COLLECTIONS
presented by the Conservation Center for Art & Historic Artifacts (CCAHA)

May 25 & 26, 2010
Charleston, WV

Hosted by Marshall University Library – South Charleston Campus

ABOUT THE PROGRAM
Attendees of this two-day program will learn archival management and preservation activities to improve intellectual control over collections, increase collections accessibility, and assist in long-term preservation initiatives. This program is an overview of archival best practices and is intended for anyone who works with archival collections.

DAY-1
An Introduction to Archival Management: Appraisal, Arrangement, and Description
Presented by Beth Bensman, Archives Specialist, National Archives, Mid-Atlantic Region

DAY-2
Archives Preservation: Maintaining and Protecting Collections
Presented by Hilary A. Kaplan, Training Specialist, National Archives and Records Administration

The fee for this two-day program is $180 for CCAHA member institutions and $200 for non-members. For more program information and to register online, go to
http://guest.cvent.com/i.aspx?5S%2cM3%2cd31d6be1-cffb-47a1-a522-87f0a68119f9

For more information about CCAHA and all its programs and services, visit our website at www.ccaha.org, org, call 215-545-0613 or email us at pso@ccaha.org.

Major funding for this program was generously provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

ORELIA DANN
PRESERVATION SERVICES ASSISTANT
264 S. 23RD STREET
PHILADELPHIA, PA 19103
t 215.545.0613 f 215.735.9313
e ODANN@CCAHA.ORG

VCCS Gene Damon Receives VLA Commendation

shelm — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 04:39:27 +0000

Richmond Virginia: Gene Damon, Director of Library Automation for the Virginia Community College System received special recognition by VLA President John Moorman at the January 29, 2010 Council Meeting. Damon was praised for for his many years of tireless service to Virginia Libraries. Congratulations Gene!

Gene Damon Commended by VLA President Moorman

Would you like to present at the 2010 Annual Conference?

shelm — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 19:22:38 +0000

The 2010 VLA Annual Conference will be held Oct. 21-22, 2010 at the Renaissance Portsmouth Hotel, Portsmouth VA.

Would you like to present at the 2010 Conference? If so, please complete the Concurrent Session Proposal Form (PDF) .

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION: MAY 1, 2010

85 Reasons to be Thankful for Librarians

shelm — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 13:25:17 +0000

1. Librarians take care of libraries, which are still invaluable today.
2. Not all information is on the internet.
3. Older books still hold great cultural significance.
4. Libraries are still repositories for some of the most valuable works of literature in the world.
5. Even with the internet, the library is still the best place to do research.
6. Girls with glasses can still rock the “sexy librarian” look.
7. “Sexy Librarian” is still a popular costume at Halloween.
8. You can’t exactly find periodicals like The New England Journal of Medicine in Barnes and Noble.
9. For that matter, looking at turn-of-the-century National Geographics is still pretty entertaining.
10. Colleges need something to remodel every so often.
11. The library is still the best meeting spot for college students working on group projects.
12. Libraries are where most colleges store some of their history (choir CDs, videos of athletic matches, etc.).
13. A library is one of the few places people can have free internet access.
14. This means some libraries even hold LAN parties during later hours.
15. Somebody has to help lazy people find what they want.
16. Even online collections of books usually connect directly to a library.
17. “Librarian” is still a better career choice for spinsters over “School Lunch Lady.”
18. Studies have shown libraries and librarians improve student test scores.
19. They also have been shown to improve students’ individual learning skills.
20. With their training in instructional design, librarians can help teachers find resources for their curriculum.
21. Librarians also help teachers to use a variety of media in the classroom.
22. Many libraries today offer enough DVDs to serve as a poor man’s Netflix or Blockbuster.
23. Librarians often put together special programs to get children to read early on.
24. While teaching children to use the library, librarians end up teaching them valuable problem solving skills.
25. They also teach children to use multiple resources to form their own original works.
26. If librarians were no longer around, kids wouldn’t understand the opening scene from Ghostbusters.
27. Librarians know a lot about proper citation skills, as well as ethical uses of information, in order to avoid plagiarism issues.
28. Libraries are still a cheaper place to make photocopies than FedEx Kinko’s.
29. Despite the advances in computer technology, a human will still find information better than a search engine.
30. Librarians can also find information better suited to the person who needs it.
31. A library is much MUCH more well cataloged and organized than the internet.
32. Libraries have much better quality control than the vast majority of websites.
33. Who else is going to learn the Dewey Decimal System? You?
34. Seriously though, no one wants to learn the Dewey Decimal System.
35. For that matter, who else is going to show you how to use that microfiche machine?
36. Experienced librarians often know exactly what resources students need for particular courses.
37. Many libraries collaborate and offer book exchange programs, offering users an almost limitless supply of books and media.
38. Librarians can help relieve some of the workload from teachers by helping students to understand information better.
39. Some engineering teams have already explored the idea of a fully digital library…and ended up designing a traditional library with some advanced technology.
40. The copyright costs for digitizing all literature would be astronomical without even factoring in distribution and storage.
41. Even without the costs, digitizing all books in existence would take hundreds of years at the current rate.
42. The internet still mostly only holds information from the past 15 or so years, compared with the hundreds of years of knowledge found in a library.
43. Even though libraries themselves may be losing attendance, their online archives and websites are still receiving plenty of visitors.
44. Despite the rising popularity of e-books, 80% of people surveyed say they still prefer paper books.
45. The experience of reading an actual book is being preserved by libraries.
46. Libraries provide one of the few places for anyone to find quiet area to just read or study.
47. Sometimes, but not always, libraries have free coffee.
48. Sometimes there are even free snacks.
49. Unlike the internet, libraries are careful that the information they contain is checked for usefulness before being included.
50. Also unlike the internet, libraries are much less influenced by corporate interests.
51. They are also less likely to be manipulated by individuals, like search engine optimizers.
52. Information on more specific topics can be much easier to find in libraries.
53. Digital or not, a library still needs a human staff to run it.
54. The resources of a library are well indexed and will always deliver reliable results (I.e. no “broken links”).
55. Many popular news publications still require subscriptions to view their content online, but are still available for free at the library.
56. Libraries provide free and abundant knowledge to everyone (a privilege people didn’t always have).
57. Not everyone can afford books, but everyone has access to the library.
58. Someone has to buy all those books that college professors write.
59. Public bathrooms in libraries are usually cleaner than most places.
60. A library can mold itself for the specific community it’s in, whereas websites usually try to bring in everyone.
61. At libraries, you can take practice qualifying tests for almost any profession.
62. You can always make suggestions to librarians for specific books you’d like to see.
63. Many libraries also display original works of art or even have separate galleries.
64. Some libraries also hold a limited number of free museum passes that anyone can use.
65. If you don’t have a computer, you can always use the ones in the library.
66. The same goes for certain premium software and special databases.
67. If your library offers wi-fi, it’s probably free.
68. Several libraries also offer programs that cater to senior citizens.
69. Believe it or not, studies show that libraries are good for their local economy, since they make their community for attractive to potential businesses and individuals.
70. Libraries are still a cornerstone for free speech and open access to information.
71. When dictators like Hitler and Mao Zedong set out to eliminate a country’s culture or history, they started by shutting down the public libraries.
72. A library still provides a neutral environment for the free exchange of ideas.
73. Public libraries are surprisingly cheap to maintain, but benefit everyone in the community.
74. If you’re a comic book lover, you can probably find plenty at your local library.
75. They might even have some of those expensive indie graphic novels available.
76. We’re still an incredibly long ways away from a paperless world.
77. You might as well use the library, since you’re already paying for it through taxes or tuition.
78. There’s less risk of getting carpal tunnel syndrome from reading books.
79. A library is a great excuse to get out of the house (seriously, why would anyone argue with you about it?).
80. Books are very portable and never need recharging.
81. With the economy these days, going to the library is a great source of free entertainment.
82. You can “try before you buy” any number of books without spending a dime.
83. Some libraries even have bookmobiles or mailing programs that deliver books right to you.
84. Studies have repeatedly shown that reading improves your basic vocabulary and just generally makes you smarter.
85. Regardless of what form a library takes, a librarian will always be ready to guide you to the information you need.

Reposted from: http://www.zencollegelife.com/2009/12/29/85-reasons-to-be-thankful-for-librarians/

Gates Foundation Announces New Support for Public Libraries to Help Provide Broadband Access for More Americans

shelm — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 01:12:46 +0000

Foundation will fund state-level efforts to improve Internet connections in libraries, and to apply for federal broadband stimulus funds

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Phone: +1.206.709.3400
Email: media@gatesfoundation.org

SEATTLE — The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation today committed nearly $3.4 million in grants to bolster Internet connections for libraries in five states. It also announced partnerships with 14 additional states to help public libraries compete for federal broadband stimulus funds. Nationally, libraries report that patron demand for high-speed Internet access is growing faster than their ability to provide increased bandwidth. A recent American Library Association study reports that 60 percent of all libraries say their current Internet speed is insufficient.

State libraries in Arkansas ($735,207), Kansas ($363,099), Massachusetts ($367,789), New York ($947,517), and Virginia ($977,468) received foundation funds to execute statewide plans to improve and maintain Internet connections in local libraries. Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Idaho, Kentucky, Montana, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Utah, Vermont, and Washington will participate in the foundation’s new Opportunity Online broadband grant program, which will help libraries develop proposals for federal broadband stimulus funding from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s (NTIA) Broadband Technology Opportunities Program established through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

“Federal, state, and local government investments in connecting libraries to broadband are important steps toward realizing the vision of universal broadband access,” said Jill Nishi, deputy director of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s U.S. Libraries program. “When libraries have access to broadband, they can effectively deliver critical educational, employment, and government services for residents that lack Internet access elsewhere. As community anchor institutions, libraries can also help drive local broadband adoption.”

Nearly 40 percent of Americans, often those with lower incomes and lower levels of education, still don’t have high-speed Internet access at home. In most communities (70 percent), the public library is the only provider of free Internet access available to residents.

NTIA’s Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) is expected to award federal stimulus grants to private and public sector applicants starting in early 2010 to expand broadband infrastructure to more communities across the country and to help new Internet users benefit from broadband access.

States participating in the foundation’s Opportunity Online broadband grant program will receive technical and consulting assistance to develop competitive funding proposals for BTOP, and will receive federally-required matching funds from the Gates Foundation, contingent on a successful BTOP award. Participating states will also receive assistance to help secure additional federal E-rate funding to sustain broadband connection costs in the future.

The foundation solicited letters of interest for the Opportunity Online broadband program from state libraries seeking to acquire significant additional broadband access for libraries in their respective states. The foundation chose to support states that articulated the most compelling and feasible projects aligned with the objectives of the BTOP program. The foundation also considered a state’s need for assistance in developing a competitive BTOP proposal.

“Libraries have never faced so much demand for high-quality Internet access,” said Susan McVey, director of the Oklahoma Department of Libraries, which will partner with the foundation to apply for BTOP funds. “It’s critical that current efforts to expand broadband access in America include strong support for public libraries so they can continue to serve as thriving, vital community technology hubs.”

The five states receiving Gates Foundation grants today to implement local broadband improvement plans have partnered with the foundation since early 2009 to develop strategies for upgrading and sustaining Internet connections in libraries, as well as raising federal E-rate participation rates among libraries. Arkansas, Kansas, Massachusetts, New York, and Virginia were selected to receive foundation grants because they had a high number of libraries without high-speed Internet access that were struggling to increase their bandwidth for patrons. The state libraries of California and Texas also participated in the program and will be eligible for grants in early 2010.

“With support from the foundation, nearly all of Massachusetts’s public libraries will be able to provide high-quality broadband service for their communities and give patrons the online opportunities they need to improve their lives, especially during these strained economic times,” said Robert Maier, director of the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners. “This means more of our residents will be able to get online at their library and successfully look for a job, find e-government information and services, improve their workforce skills, and continue their education.”

The foundation has invested $350 million in grants and support to install and sustain computers in libraries and train thousands of library staff in all 50 states and U.S. territories. The foundation continues to support libraries through investments in programs, research, advocacy training, and public awareness efforts that will help libraries sustain high-quality online access for patrons in partnership with their communities. For more information, visit the foundation’s libraries page.

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Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives. In developing countries, it focuses on improving people’s health and giving them the chance to lift themselves out of hunger and extreme poverty. In the United States, it seeks to ensure that all people—especially those with the fewest resources—have access to the opportunities they need to succeed in school and life. Based in Seattle, Washington, the foundation is led by CEO Jeff Raikes and Co-chair William H. Gates Sr., under the direction of Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett.

ILS webinar moderated by Marshall Breeding

shelm — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:53:18 +0000

Join ALA TechSource and WebJunction December 10 at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time for a discussion of integrated library systems with systems expert Marshall Breeding and representatives from vendors in the field. They will discuss new features and capabilities available in the most modern library software, and what it really means for these tools to be customizable. The event coincides with the publication of Breeding’s November/December 2009 issue of Library Technology Reports, “Opening Up Library Systems through Web Services and SOA: Hype or Reality?”…
BlogJunction, Nov. 5

ALA Washington Office Webinar: Libraries, Advocacy and Social Media

shelm — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:59:06 +0000

Believe it or not, Twitter, Facebook, Linked In and other Web 2.0 applications are becoming more and more effective tools for library advocacy efforts. Join Dr. Curtis Rogers (South Carolina State Library), Kristin Murphy (ALA Washington Office) and Stephanie Vance (Advocacy Guru), for this session on how libraries can use social media techniques to capture the attention of policymakers and the public they represent — from townhall to Washington, DC! If you’re wondering how to use Web 2.0 to get heard on issues that matter to your library, this is the place to be!

When: Tuesday, October 27, 2009 – 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM EDT